The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure.

To be turned from one’s course by men’s opinions, by blame, and by misrepresentation shows a man unfit to hold office.

A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always count on the support of Paul.

There is nothing more tyrannical than a strong popular feeling among a democratic people.

Democracy is the recurrent suspicion that more than half of the people are right more than half of the time.

You have all the characteristics of a popular politician: a horrible voice, bad breeding, and a vulgar manner.

The more corrupt the republic, the more numerous the laws.

Why has the government been instituted at all? Because the passions of men will not conform to the dictates of reason and justice without constraint.

Envy is the basis of democracy.

The U.S. presidency is a Tudor monarchy plus telephones.

O citizens, first acquire wealth; you can practice virtue afterward.

Television has made dictatorship impossible, but democracy unbearable.

A real leader is somebody who can help us overcome the limitations of our own individual laziness and selfishness and weakness and fear and get us to do better, harder things than we can get ourselves to do on our own.